Crossing The Line

Dusk was setting in, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink. Specialist Liam "Lee" Turner was seated with his newly assigned AASOC squad in a covert setup, not far from Zarabad. They sat around a makeshift table, an electronic map glowing softly from a rugged laptop, illuminating their faces.

The team leader, a hard-faced man with a stern expression known as Captain Walker, began, "Alright, listen up. Intel suggests a possible insurgent compound not far from here." He pointed at a location on the map. "Our job? Quiet in, quiet out. Gather intel. No fireworks unless absolutely necessary."

Lee cleared his throat, "What's our extraction plan?"

Another member, a wiry woman with short black hair named Alex, chimed in, "Helicopter pickup at this point." She marked another spot on the map. "But it's crucial we remain undetected."

Lee nodded. "Are we expecting any heavy resistance?"

A tall, broad-shouldered member of the team, known as "Tank" due to his sheer size, laughed, "Mate, if we do our job right, they won't even know we've been there."

Lee sighed, trying to mask his underlying worry about Liv and the others, "Just wish the others were here, y'know?"

Walker, sensing Lee's unease, patted his back, "We all have to play our parts, Lee. Liv's strong, she'll manage."

Another member, this one with spectacles, looked up from some equipment he was tinkering with, "Just focus on the mission. It's all that matters right now."

"Right," Lee replied, taking a deep breath and pushing his emotions aside. "Let's get to it then."

The vast expanse of the desert was deceptive in its serenity. The silent terrain under the silver glow of the moonlight offered a quiet that was almost oppressive. Captain Walker took point, followed by Alex, Lee, Tank, and Jeremy (affectionately known as 'Spectacles')

"Keep your eyes peeled," Walker whispered, his voice barely audible but dripping with authority. "Remember, they have home ground advantage."

Behind him, Alex used a compact infrared device, scanning for signs of any life form. "Clear on my end, for now," she reported, her voice steady and low.

Tank, as ever, tried to lighten the mood, "You know I've got this killer recipe for baklava."

Jeremy adjusted his glasses, smirking, "Assuming we make it back in one piece and aren't caught behind lines in an insurgent stronghold."

Lee, focused intently on the path ahead, added, "Focus. We've got a job to do."

A sudden crackle interrupted the tense silence - it was Walker's radio. "Echo to Alpha, approaching the compound's west end. All clear." Walker simply replied with a single click, the universal signal of acknowledgment.

The team continued their trek, each step weighed down with purpose, trying to remain as inconspicuous as the shifting sands beneath their boots. In the distance, the outline of a fortified structure began to appear, likely the compound in question.

Alex signaled for the group to stop, taking out a compact drone from her pack. "Eagle's Eye," she whispered, activating the drone, which took off almost silently and began transmitting real-time video feeds of the compound.

Through the drone's camera, they could see a few guards patrolling the compound's perimeter. "Three guards on the north side," Alex noted. "Another two on the east."

Walker considered this for a moment. "Tank, Jeremy, you're with me. We'll approach from the north. Lee, take Alex and go around the east."

Lee nodded, his face set in determination. "Understood."

Each team moved quickly, using the shadows and the natural depressions in the land to remain unseen. As they neared the compound, the reality of their mission and the dangers it entailed became even more palpable.

Inside the compound, the hum of generators could be heard, and the faint sound of chatter drifted towards them. It was clear that while the exterior might seem calm, the compound was buzzing with activity on the inside.

The wind picked up as the team inched closer to the compound, using the natural cover the landscape provided. As Walker's hand motioned for the group to crouch and regroup, a sudden flash illuminated the night, followed closely by the deafening roar of an explosion.

Dust and debris filled the air. Alex coughed, trying to call out, "Everyone alright?" 

Lee's response was immediate, "I'm good. A bit shaken, though."

A sudden hail of bullets cut through the stillness of the night, and the team instinctively hit the ground. 

"Where the hell did that come from?" Tank exclaimed, trying to locate the source of the gunfire.

Walker, squinting into the distance, shouted, "Three o'clock! There's a ridge. They've got the high ground."

"We weren't expecting this, were we?" Spectacles murmured, quickly adjusting his gear.

Alex, who was scanning the surroundings, piped up, "Can't pin the uniform. Mercenaries, maybe?"

"Guess we've made new friends," Tank quipped, taking aim and firing off a few rounds in response.

As bullets continued to rain down, Lee took a deep breath and spoke with grim determination, "We need to move, find some cover. This open ground's a death trap."

Walker nodded, "Agreed. Let's push east, towards that ruined building. It'll give us a break."

They moved as one to make themselves harder targets. Every so often, one of them would lay down suppressive fire, giving the others a few crucial seconds to advance. 

As they finally took refuge behind the remains of the building, Walker turned to Lee, "Ever seen anything like this? An ambush this well-coordinated?"

Lee shook his head, his usual calm demeanor showing a hint of worry, "No. Whoever these guys are, they're professionals. Well-equipped and trained. This isn't a random skirmish."

The echoing sound of gunfire persisted, punctuated by the occasional shout or scream. The team had found themselves in a far more perilous situation than they'd anticipated.

Walker took out his radio, attempting to establish contact. "Alpha to Echo. Come in. We're pinned down. Need support."

Static filled the air, but then, a faint voice replied, "This is Echo. Hold tight. We've got a situation here too."

As the firefight continued, a sudden cease in the gunfire was followed by a voice amplified through a megaphone, a voice unmistakably thick with a Mediterranean accent.

"We have no quarrel with the rest of you, but we need Lee. Hand him over, and the rest can walk away unharmed."

Alex looked at Lee, her face reflecting her confusion. "Why would they want you?"

Lee's face was unreadable. "I don't know. Never seen or heard of them before."

Tank, still gripping his weapon tightly, growled, "If they think we're just handing anyone over, they're out of their damned minds."

Walker tried to piece things together. "This isn't a regular operation. Someone's after you, Lee. Someone who's got the resources to hire professionals like these."

Spectacles chimed in, "If they're after Lee, it's probably information-related. He was involved in several covert ops before joining us. Perhaps he saw something he shouldn't have?"

Lee shook his head, frustrated. "That's the thing. I can't think of anything. Everything was by the book."

As they deliberated, another shout came through, more forceful this time. "You have five minutes! Hand over Lee, or we'll storm your position."

Alex, looking through a crack in the ruined wall, observed, "There's too many of them. And they've got a vehicle, an armored one, approaching from the northwest."

Walker pondered for a second and then said, "We need a plan. We can't hold them off for long."

Lee, taking a deep breath, replied, "I'll go out. See what they want."

Walker shot him a glare. "Like hell you will. We're not sacrificing anyone."

"Then we need a distraction," Spectacles whispered, already fumbling with some wires and a small device.

Tank grinned, "Now you're talking my language. Gimme two minutes, and I'll give them a show."

As the opposing forces closed in, Tank's efforts bore fruit. An explosive device he'd set off created a massive boom, sending several of Rico's men to the ground. However, this momentary advantage didn't last long. A sharpshooter from Rico's side had them pinned, and their accurate fire was taking a toll.

"Sniper, east side, third floor of the red building!" Spectacles yelled, pointing out the threat.

But before they could react, a shot rang out, piercing the brief silence that had descended upon the scene. Alex, who had been peering out to get a better look, took a fatal bullet to the head. She collapsed instantly.

"Man down!" Walker reported, his voice calm but strained.

Lee dragged Alex's body to cover, cursing under his breath. Every fiber of his being screamed in anger and frustration, but there was no time for grief.

Tank, trying to lay down suppressing fire, shouted, "We're out of options here!"

As the conflict raged, a bright flare shot up, briefly lighting the darkened battlefield. Captain Walker's eyes widened in recognition as a white mist began to descend.

"White phosphorus!" Walker shouted over the din of gunfire, the words choked with panic. A memory from his past, a haunting specter, returned in this dire moment. 

Everyone scrambled, trying to find cover, but it was too late. The fiery chemical rained down upon them. The intense heat, combined with the choking fumes, was debilitating. Tank tried to pull his shirt over his nose, attempting to ward off the fumes, but the gesture was futile. Spectacles began to cough, his eyes watering. The world around them blurred, the air itself seeming to ignite.

"Stay low!" Lee managed to yell, his voice sounding distant to his ears. He could feel himself getting weaker, every breath a searing pain. As his vision tunneled, he thought he saw a familiar figure through the haze, dashing towards them.

His last conscious thought, before everything went dark, was recognizing Liv, his former squad leader. The image of her piercing gaze was the last thing imprinted on his mind.

___________________

Lee's senses gradually returned, his head throbbing. The faint echo of dripping water suggested they were somewhere underground. Trying to sit up, he felt a hand gently push him down.

"Easy," a familiar voice soothed. "You took quite a hit."

His eyes adjusted to the dim light, and he saw Liv, her face showing signs of relief mixed with worry.

"You..." Lee croaked, "I thought you were... gone."

She gave a wry smile. "Reports of my demise were greatly exaggerated. When Juliet Squad was separated, I found myself with... new allies," she gestured to two figures standing in the shadows.

Walker, groggily regaining consciousness beside Lee, surveyed their surroundings. "This is the cave system," he murmured.

Liv nodded, "It's safer here."

Tank, coughing but seemingly okay, chimed in with his usual humor, "Anyone got a mint? Got a bad taste in my mouth." Spectacles simply adjusted his glasses, taking in their environment.